Masonry Contractor in Moores Mill, AL - Repairs and New Walls That Hold Up
Advanced Madison Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Madison, AL, doing brick repair, tuckpointing, chimney work and new walls, walkways and fireplaces for homes in Moores Mill and across northern Madison County.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Masonry work for Moores Mill homes
Moores Mill is an unincorporated community in northern Madison County, with Meridianville to the west and Huntsville to the south, and it's been growing. Since there's no city government, the county handles the paperwork side of a job. On our jobs out here we see older brick houses on roomy lots next to newer homes with brick fronts and stone trim. One call is about crumbling joints, and the next is a retaining wall for a backyard that won't stay put.
We do the same work over in Athens and around Madison. Your price comes down to the material, how much old work comes out first and how easy the spot is to reach. The schedule depends on the weather and on whether the county needs a permit, and I put your number in writing at the estimate. The ground decides the rest, because clay that stays wet after a rain shifts under footings and pushes on walls.
- Mortar matched to your brick
- The owner working on your job
- Drainage planned for wet clay
- A smaller fix when that's enough
Masonry services in Moores Mill
Here's what we build and repair for Moores Mill homeowners, from mortar joints on older brick houses to new walls, walkways and fireplaces.
Foundation repair
Clay soil swells when it's wet and shrinks in a dry August, and that can crack a foundation. We find where it's moving before we patch anything.
Explore Foundation repairChimney repair
Loose bricks and a cracked crown, the concrete cap on top, are common on older chimneys here. Both let water in, so we start there.
Explore Chimney repairTuckpointing
When the joints on an older Moores Mill house turn sandy, we grind out the bad mortar and pack new mortar matched to the old color and strength.
Explore TuckpointingBrick repair
Cracked brick, or spalled brick where the face has popped off, is mostly a water and freeze problem here. We cut out the damaged ones and set matching brick.
Explore Brick repairDriveway pavers
Pavers on clay need a deep, packed base and solid edging, or they rut where you park. We dig and compact that base before we set any.
Explore Driveway paversRetaining wall construction
Sloped backyards in the newer subdivisions here often need a wall to hold the grade. We build with drainage behind, because water pressure is what pushes walls over.
Explore Retaining wall constructionMasonry restoration
On an older brick home that's been patched over the years, restoration means cleaning, repointing and replacing brick so the whole wall matches and sheds water again.
Explore Masonry restorationFireplace installation
A brick or stone fireplace suits the family rooms in a lot of Moores Mill homes. We build the firebox, hearth and surround ourselves and set every course plumb.
Explore Fireplace installationStone veneer installation
Newer houses here often mix brick with stone. We set veneer over a water barrier and metal mesh, because water trapped behind it is what ruins it.
Explore Stone veneer installationConcrete block walls
Block makes solid privacy and garden walls on the larger lots out here. Wherever a wall needs extra strength, we fill the hollow cores with concrete and steel.
Explore Concrete block wallsFoundation block wall installation
For additions, garages and crawlspace foundations, we lay block on a level, properly sized footing, because the clay here punishes a footing that's too small.
Explore Foundation block wall installationOutdoor kitchen masonry
Big backyards here have room for an outdoor kitchen. We build the block base and the brick or stone face to handle grill heat, rain and a heavy counter.
Explore Outdoor kitchen masonryWalkway construction
Walkways laid on bare dirt over clay heave and settle. We build ours on a packed gravel base with a slight pitch so rain runs off.
Explore Walkway constructionBrick wall installation
A brick garden or entry wall looks best when it matches your house, and plenty of homes here are brick. We find the closest match before we lay anything.
Explore Brick wall installationStone masonry
Natural stone steps, columns and walls suit the rolling lots in this part of the county. We fit each stone by hand instead of just stacking them.
Explore Stone masonryBrick pointing
If your house has only a few cracked or open joints, pointing those spots may be all it needs. In that case, that's the job I'll quote.
Explore Brick pointing
Get your free Moores Mill estimate
Tell us what you're seeing and your Moores Mill address. We respond within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, with no obligation.
What Moores Mill homes ask of masonry
Out here the trouble usually starts with water. It soaks into older brick, beats on chimneys and runs the wrong way across newer yards.
Older brick, softer mortar
On older brick we match the mortar to the brick instead of using a hard modern mix, because mortar harder than the brick cracks the brick itself.
Runoff on newer lots
Some newer yards send rain toward the house or down a slope. We look at where the water goes before we set a wall, walk or step.
Chimneys in the weather
Chimneys take the worst of the rain and sun. Before we price a repair, we check the crown and the flashing, which is the metal seal at the roofline.
Don't see your area? Give us a call
Each of the cities listed here has its own page. Pick yours to see what we run into on the houses and ground there.
If your area isn't on the list, call (256) 289-8018 anyway. We work across Madison, Huntsville, Decatur, Athens and the cities around them, so there's a good chance we already come your way.
From your call to the finished job
I keep the estimate simple. Before you decide anything, you should hear what I see, what I'd do and what it costs, in writing.
Call or send a note
Call (256) 289-8018 or use the form. Tell us what's going on with your brick, block or stone and where the house is.
I come out and look
I come out myself and look the job over. Then I tell you what I see and what I'd do, including a smaller fix if that's all it needs.
Your price in writing
You get the price and the scope in writing. Nothing gets filed with the county until you've signed a contract that spells both out.
We build, then walk it
Once you say go, we handle what the county asks for, including any permit paperwork. Then we do the masonry ourselves and walk the finished job with you.
Moores Mill masonry questions
How do I find out if my masonry project in Moores Mill needs a permit?
Ask the Madison County Building Inspection Department, the county office that issues building permits for homes out here. The county requires a permit before any work to build, alter, repair or demolish a structure. If you're not sure your job counts, they ask you to contact them before you start. If we're doing the work, that call is ours to make.
How much does brick or masonry repair cost in Moores Mill?
Masonry work in Moores Mill is priced by the job, and I give you that price in writing after I've seen it. Matching older brick or mortar, digging footings in wet clay, building drainage behind a wall and working in hard-to-reach spots all add cost. A smaller targeted repair keeps it down. When the county requires a permit, its fee goes into the total too.
When does a masonry contractor need a state license to work on a Moores Mill home?
A builder needs a license from the state Home Builders Licensure Board when paid work on someone else's house costs more than $10,000, and the license is renewed every year. That law covers homes up to three floors and four units. Anyone doing business for profit also needs a Madison County business license, and a license is generally needed in each county where the work is done. A licensed builder has to show the Board license number on the written contract, so check for it before you sign.
Can I build my own brick wall or walkway in Moores Mill without a licensed builder?
Yes. State builder licensing doesn't apply when you build or improve your own one- or two-family home for your own use, not for sale, and you supervise the work yourself. That exemption stays with you and can't be passed to someone else through a power of attorney. It doesn't settle the permit question, so the county building department is still the place to ask.
What flood rules apply to building in a floodplain in Moores Mill?
Before any work in a designated floodplain, you need a floodplain development permit from Madison County Public Works, which manages floodplains for the unincorporated county. New buildings and substantial improvements in a mapped flood hazard area also need a FEMA Elevation Certificate showing the building sits high enough. If your lot sits low or near a creek, tell us when you call so we can raise it with the county early.
What causes brick and mortar to crack in Moores Mill?
Water and swings in temperature cause most of it. Next door in Huntsville, normal rainfall is about 54 inches a year, with January lows around 33 degrees and July highs around 91. That means brick and mortar here soak, dry, bake and now and then freeze. Wet clay settling under a footing adds its own cracks, so I look at the ground and the gutters before I quote new mortar.
Tell us about your Moores Mill job
Call (256) 289-8018 or use the form with your address and what you're seeing. I'll come look before small cracks let in more water.